Conservation of slender-snouted crocodile in the Lake Region of Gabon

Cyrille Mvele

The lake region of Gabon is thought to have one of the largest remaining populations of slender-snouted crocodile in Africa. While the species is formally protected in Gabon, it is heavily hunted for bushmeat and was observed on 47% of Organisation Ecotouristique du Lac Oguemoué (OELO) market surveys over the last two years in Lambaréné, Gabon. Our team proposes a project to better understand and reduce illegal trade of the slender-snouted crocodile through interviews, an outreach campaign directed at hunters and vendors, environmental education for the next generation of bushmeat consumers and a citizen science initiative at an ecotourism site to gather information and build awareness for the species. We aim to reduce the amount of crocodile bushmeat for sale, decrease demand for crocodile meat and rally support for crocodile conservation with the next generation of Lambaréné and lake residents.